Great Plains Daily Devotional for 5/29/2020

Acts 13:1-3

Read slowly and prayerfully.  What words or phrases stand out for you?

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

This coming Sunday our congregation will participate in the baptism of my friend’s son.  The baby’s grandfather, though now deceased, was the head usher at our church and a true disciple.  He grew up a Christian in India and was one of the few folks in our congregation whom I knew had been persecuted for his faith.
 
As this baby is baptized, he will be incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God’s new creation and made to share in Christ’s royal priesthood.  Our congregation will welcome him with Christian love and renew our covenant to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.  We will make our promises to nurture him in Christ’s Holy Faith and teach him to practice the Wesleyan means of grace:  Prayer, Searching the Scriptures, Holy Communion, Fasting, Christian Community, and Healthy Living.
 
May we prepare to be sent, as this grandfather was, to share our faith.  As we baptize and confirm members into our congregations and move beyond our buildings into mission and ministry in our local communities, let us remember to follow our spiritual disciplines as the church in Antioch did:  They fasted and prayed and laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and then sent them off.
 
Praise God for the Priesthood of all Believers, which calls each of us to minister to our faith.

Prayer for Reflection

Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11